Arundhati reaches main draw of Singapore Open

New Delhi: National Games gold medallist Arundhati Pantawane made a grand entry into the main draw of the women`s singles event of the Singapore Open Super Series after registering twin wins in the qualifiers on Tuesday.

The promising youngster rallied her way from a game down to out-slug Chinese Taipei`s Hsiao Huan Chen 18-21 21-17 21-19 in a 52-minute first-round match. She then saw off Canadian Li Michelle 21-14 14-21 21-19 in another thrilling second round match that lasted for 46 minutes. The 21-year-old Arundhati will now take on Chinese Taipei`s Tzu Ying Tai in the first round of the main draw at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. While Arundhati fought her way to the main draw, her male counterparts RMV Gurusai Datt and Ajay Jayaram couldn`t stay afloat in the men`s singles qualifiers. Gurusai lost to Thailand`s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 20-22 16-21 in the second round.The 21-year-old Andra Pradesh shuttler had beaten Chinese Taipei`s Hsuan Yi Hsueh 16-21 21-18 21-12 in the first round match. Ajay Jayaram, however, couldn`t cross even the first hurdle of the qualification, losing to Malaysian Muhammad Hafiz Hashim 15-21 21-14 22-24. PTI